Ranking of Australia’s airports from worst to best with key changes and critiques
Consensus Summary
Both THEAGE and SMH analyze Australia’s airport rankings, focusing on recent changes like Melbourne Airport’s new drop-off policy requiring passengers to say goodbye from a central hub. Darwin and Hobart airports score lowest due to limited facilities and cramped spaces, while Adelaide ranks highest for its proximity to the city and efficient operations. Melbourne and Sydney receive mixed reviews for their size and traffic issues, though both have improved in recent years. Gold Coast Airport faces criticism for its location outside the city, and Brisbane’s terminals are praised for smooth domestic operations but criticized for transfer difficulties. Canberra Airport, though modern, handles fewer passengers annually.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Melbourne Airport announced a change ending drivers dropping passengers at terminal doors, requiring goodbyes from a central transport hub connected via footbridge
- Darwin Airport has check-in counters opening 90 minutes to 2 hours before flights and only one land-side café
- Hobart Airport is undergoing a $200 million terminal upgrade due to finish next year
- Perth Airport’s terminals 1 and 2 are separated from terminals 3 and 4 by a 15-minute drive with no faster transfer option
- Gold Coast Airport’s half of its runway is not in Queensland, requiring up to 40 minutes by taxi from Surfers Paradise
- Brisbane Airport’s domestic terminal has a dedicated train line from the city and offers food options from ramen to Red Rooster
- Canberra Airport handles about 3 million passengers annually and is 10 minutes from the city center
- Melbourne Airport’s Skybus is criticized for lack of rail link, causing traffic dependency
- Sydney Airport’s international arrivals procedure was previously chaotic but has since improved
- Adelaide Airport is less than 15 minutes by car from the city center and has a spacious terminal
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Melbourne Airport ranked 21st globally in the World Airline Awards
- Melbourne’s T4 holds passengers in a central atrium without announcing gate numbers until the last minute
- Perth’s automated customs gates have eased congestion
- Gold Coast Airport’s domestic departure gates are frequently overcrowded with little seating
- Brisbane’s international terminal opened in 1995 and is now feeling old and cramped
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The articles are identical in content and do not contain any contradictions.
Source Articles
Australia’s airports ranked: From the worst to the best, here’s my verdict
In the world rankings, Melbourne came top of the list among Australian airports, but is it really? Here’s my personal rating for each of our major airports.
Australia’s airports ranked: From the worst to the best, here’s my verdict
In the world rankings, Melbourne came top of the list among Australian airports, but is it really? Here’s my personal rating for each of our major airports.